Relaxing

We started the day with oatmeal made with nuts and bananas. We got a late start but it didn't matter because we weren't in a hurry. We headed to Renniger's Flea Market, a huge flea market which has some inside air-conditioned aisles to balance out the hot outside areas.  Krissy found a phone case which may be useful when she visits Disney, and Aaron lingered in a record store until he found an old Stevie Vaughn lp. 

When we'd had enough of the flea market we drove over the the antique section. This is housed in another large (air-conditioned) building with a series of smaller buildings around the perimeter. We started in the main section where the guys checked out some WW1 stuff, including a huge Mauser 13mm anti-tank rifle.

There was too much to see today and we were getting hungry, so we left Renniger's and went to Mt. Dora to try lunch at the One Flight Up Cafe. While we were waiting to order, all the guys were busy on their phones. Kids these days! 

The appetizer tray put an end to phones, though; we were hungry and it was good. 

We followed it with chicken salad sandwiches and ham and cheese. After our mid-afternoon lunch we walked over to Every Nook and Cranny, the craft store where I sell jewelry. Then it was time to go home for a quick nap, before we went out again to see some of The Villages. We started with Spanish Springs and walked around their town square.  Then we drove to Lake Sumter square for another stroll, admiring golf carts, listening to music, and walking over to the lake. 

When it started getting dark we went back to our place. We drove through our park before going home to a dinner of leftover Cuban food, ham and cheese sandwiches, and stories about our favorite childhood foods.

More water fun

Yesterday we agreed we'd have a light breakfast today, so this morning Randy warmed up some leftovers. However...our leftovers included biscuits and gravy, banana muffins, and a pork chop that Randy diced up and mixed into fresh scrambled eggs. It was a great breakfast, but we missed the "light" goal.

No matter, we didn't have anything strenuous planned for today. We loaded up the boat with drinks and our dog and headed out. Our canal is still covered in green. This isn't algae, it looks like a lot of tiny leaves floating on top. 

Along our canal is a plantain tree with some plantains that are almost ready to be picked. Plantains are well camouflaged in the trees but that bright purple pod hanging below always gives them away.

Our canal opens into Lake Griffin, which is a large lake with a few houses along the shore, but not much else. It's pretty straightforward but sometimes you have to look really hard to spot a landmark. 

Even with extra eyes, there can be some confusion.

 When in doubt, call in the experienced navigator - Shorty. 

We turned into Haines Creek, which always has more boats on it that the lake. It's a pretty canal between lakes, with lots of birds, water lilies and cypress trees.

After exploring the creek awhile, we returned to the lake and continued on to Pirats Oasis.  There wasn't a breeze here today so it was really hot there but our burgers and fish were good, as usual. And this is always a good place to gas up the boat. I thought it was funny to see a buzzard hanging around - it adds atmosphere to this place, which already has plenty of that. 

After a late lunch we boated back home across Lake Griffin, which was as smooth as it could be. No storms today.

Our church has started having a Saturday evening service this month so we attended that service tonight. When it was over, it seemed like a good time to visit Mystic Ice Cream again. This is one of our favorite places for ice cream because the ice cream is very good and the atmosphere is very interesting. 

Tubing Today

Breakfast today was Randy's biscuits and sausage gravy, which is a great way to start the day. Then we drove to Kelley Park Rock Springs to go tubing. Before renting the tubes we checked to be sure we could get into the park; the last time we were here the park was closed for awhile. But today it was open so we drove the half mile back to rent tubes, piled them on top of the jeep, and headed into the park. 

The water was still 68 degrees cool so it takes your breath away when you first get in. But after that it feels wonderful against the 90+ degrees weather. The water moved all of us along except for Krissie. She doesn't like being near the water weeds and slippery rocks of the shoreline but somehow the current kept scooting her over there! Nevertheless we all made it through and enjoyed it enough that at the end we picked up our tubes and walked all the way back to the start to do it again. 

Afterwards Krissie and I decided to lay out on the gravely, grassy area near the main pool and talk while the guys did the float trip again a couple more times. By then it was after 3 and we were ready for food and drink. We returned the tubes and got sodas at the gas station across the street before heading to Mount Dora. Besides a lot of cute stores, Mt Dora has several restaurants to choose from. We ended up at the "Las Palmas" Cuban restaurant. Our food was good but this time Aaron got the pick of the litter with the Seafood Paella. 

As we finished our meal, storm clouds rolled in and we thought we might get rained on. But we went to the Mt Dora Olive Oil Company store anyway because Aaron wanted to know what truffle oil tastes like (it's pretty good).

Back at home we all went out back to sit on the boat, enjoying an evening breeze that was stirred up by the storm which, although there was lightning on the horizon, passed us by. After awhile a small alligator showed up, watching us carefully for a few minutes before disappearing underwater. 

Porch Progress

Randy fried Spam and served it with eggs this morning. Then Randy R got busy putting the finishing touches on the drywall screws (he uses 3 coats to be sure of a great finish).  Aaron and Randy went outside into the early morning heat dismantle the porch's support framework and set a board across the bottom of the door frame. 

They measured a folded metal piece that would fit just below the threshold. 

The plan was to set the metal under the door jam. To prepare for this Aaron cut away the glue at the edge of the jam. 

Next they laid glue on both sides of the metal piece so it would hold without any gaps. 

Randy set it on, scooting it tightly under the door jam bottom and sides and it fit perfectly.

Next they started to level the part of the framework that would be permanent.

At that point Randy R and I left to pick Krissy up at the airport. When I got back, most of the porch was complete!

Lovely! But it was time to relax over a dinner of pork chops, scalloped potatoes and peas, followed by chocolate peanut clusters.

The start of another big project

Randy doesn't agree with the "light breakfast" theory; he fixed us sausage, egg and cheese sandwhichs on big hoagie rolls. Then Randy and Aaron drove to Home Depot for some things while Randy R started mudding over the million screws that were set in the drywall yesterday, pausing as needed to set screws deeper. 

When the guys got back, they unloaded a bunch of materials and all three started working on putting in a front porch for us. Randy R grabbed a shovel and started digging the post holes. 

Meanwhile Randy and Aaron cut the heavy duty cardboard forms for the footing  - we got two from each one. 

They carefully measured between the two post forms on one side to be sure the posts would be in the correct position.

 Then they dug out the other side.

 That was followed by a whole lot of measuring, leveling, and adding supports.

In order to be sure it was as square as possible, they decided to move one post in a little, even though it required redigging the hole.

It looks kinda redneck at this point, but it's the framework for a great porch!

Each post hole was filled with concrete; we ended up using 11 bags.

As the concrete set, they carefully mounded it around the post so water will run away from it. The wood is treated but there is no sense in letting water stand around it.

That was all that could be done on the porch today, and Randy had to get ready to teach his Financial Peace University class. But Aaron and Randy R weren't ready to quit for the day. Randy R fixed the remaining screw holes and sanded over them. Aaron installed a 2x12 along the post in the center of the room, then they both worked on finishing that area. They installed a 1x2 header, then drywalled under it. 

The only thing left to do today was cut and install drywall pieces where the ceilings between the living room and the new room are not level. There is more to do, but it's easy for me to see how great this is going to look! 

Since Randy wasn't home to prepare dinner, we enjoyed left over lasagna, steak, and bread pudding.

Another good friend and another days' work

To put up the drywall, we used Aaron's drywall lifter. He brought it down during an earlier trip and it's been waiting patiently for this day. 

Just after they got it set up, Gary Duke showed up with his tool belt on, ready to pitch in. He started by cutting the hole for the light fixture in the drywall piece that will hang in the center of the room. 

Then Randy R and Aaron cranked the drywall up to the ceiling. It's tricky because it was cut to fit tightly between the walls, so it had to be perfectly centered or it would hang up. When they got it where it needed to be,  Gary put in a few screws to hold it. 

Randy and Gary finished attaching that piece while Aaron and Randy R went outside to cut another sheet. They fitted it in next to the center piece and repeated the process until that half of the ceiling was covered. 

Next they did the wall, which was laid longways to decrease the seams. 

 Aaron cut out spaces for our wall outlets and Randy ran wiring for the doorbell and filled gaps with insulation.

The section around the door needed a little on-the-spot trimming for a snug fit. 

We will have three light switched by the door so Aaron measured where they would be located

 and Randy cut the hole.

Around the door frame required a special cut, because of the sloping roof line. 

Then they hung drywall on the other side of the room. 

 

On the beam between the new area and the living room, Randy pulled out the piece of wood that used to hold the door frame. It left a zillion staples, all facing downward, to be cut and hammered over. 

Unfortunately Gary had to leave before we settled down to a dinner of brats and hot dogs. Too bad, they were good.